Prevalence of Central Neuropathic Pain After a Stroke in Patients Attending Post-stroke Consultations in the Île-de-France Region

Post-stroke pain is common, affecting 15-50% of patients and significantly impacting their quality of life, rehabilitation, and functional recovery. There are different types of post-stroke pain, including peripheral pain related to spasticity, shoulder pain, complex regional pain syndrome, and headaches, as well as central pain linked to brain lesions. Central Post-Stroke Pain (CPSP) is diagnosed when the pain has neuropathic characteristics (burning, cold, tightness, compression), possibly accompanied by allodynia, hyperesthesia, and sensory-motor disorders localized to the area affected by the stroke. CPSP disrupts sleep, impairs functional rehabilitation, and can lead to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and cognitive disorders. The prevalence of CPSP varies, ranging from 1% to 35%, but it is likely underreported due to difficulties in detection caused by cognitive or communication issues, the clinical variability of CPSP, and its coexistence with other types of post-stroke pain.

CPSP often remains resistant to standard neuropathic pain treatments, such as anticonvulsants and antidepressants, which may cause side effects that reduce patients' autonomy and quality of life. Non-pharmacological therapies used in other chronic pain conditions may offer promising alternatives, but have not been widely studied in CPSP. Improved clinical characterization of CPSP patients is essential. Following a 2015 decree by the French Ministry of Health, post-stroke consultations are standardized, providing a good opportunity for systematic pain screening. The study proposes a systematic screening of different types of pain during post-stroke consultations, categorizing patients into three groups: those with CPSP, those with pain from another mechanism, and those without pain.